Wire fence



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. MoKEE. WIRE FENCE.

(No Model.)

Patented Aug. 18,1896.

Wigesses u (Nomaden.) zsheqts-sneet 2.

J. MGKB.

WIRE PBNGE-L i y No. 565,916. Patented Aug. 18, 1896.

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i UNITED jiSTA.Tinsl PATENT OFFICE.

" s JOHN Meinen, or WARREN, OHIO.

`WIRE FNoEV.

s'rncIrI cA'IIon` forming part of Lettes. Patent No. 565,916, dated August 1s, 1896.

Appiit'ttitn ned september 5,1895. seria No. 561,558. (No man.)

` To all` whom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, JOHN MCKEE, a citizen i of the United States, residing at Warren, in

the county of Trumbull and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Wire Fence, of which the following is a speciication.

This invention relates to wire fences, and more especially to the means employed for strengthening and bracing the line-wires and for subjecting the latter to linear strain, whereby contraction and expansion due to changes in temperature may be compensated for; and to this end the improvement consists, primarily, of a novel formation of stay,

a new construction of compensator, and of certain novel features and details of construction which hereinafter will be more particularly set forth, illustrated, and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, which show an embodiment of theinvention, Figure l is aside elevation of a fence-panel, showing the application ofthe invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail View of the stay.A Fig. 3 is a detail view of the looped wire forming an element of the stay. Fig. 4t is a detail view of the straight wire forming another element of the said stay. Fig. 5is a detail view of thel compensating device. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the spool, showing the provisions for rotating it to Wind up the end portions of the respective wires, and the device to prevent the unwinding of the wires after the proper tension has been attained thereon.

Referring to the drawings, in which the same numerals designate corresponding parts in all the figures, 1 Vindicates a series of linewires which are attached to supports or fenceposts 2 in any convenient manner. These Wires are intercepted in their length at any convenient point and are connected by means of compensators,which consist of a coil-sprin g 3, a spool 4, and a folded wire 5. The coilspring 3 may be of any desired length and is of the closed type `and operates by reason of its contractile tendency after being expanded substantially in the manner presently to be described.

The spool comprises practically three members, which are in alinement and separated by flanges 6, in which are formed a series of openings 7. One end of the spool is enlargedA and has a transverse opening S formed therein for the reception of a rod 9 or other instrument by* means of which the spool can be turned upon its axis so as to Wind the end portions of the Wires having connection therewith.

When applying the compensator to a line or fence wire, the latter is intercepted at the required point, and one end of the wire thus intercepted is connected with one terminal of the coil-sprin g 3, and the opposite end is made fast to the middle portion of the spool between the iianges 6 by beingpassed through an opening extending therethrough, the extremity of the wire being bent so as to prevent its withdrawal from the opening when turning the spool, as will presently appear. The folded wire 5 is secured at its middle point to the opposite terminal of the coil-spring 3, and its extremities are attached to the end portions of the spool exterior to the flanges 6 in any convenient manner, preferably by having their extremities passed through openings in substantially the same manner as the connection between the wire and the middle portion of the spool previously referred to.

To secure a tension upon the line-wire, the spool .Lis turned by means of the rod 9, thereby winding the end portions of the wires upon the spool and expanding the coil-spring 3. After the required tension is attained a pin or wire l0 is slipped through registering openings 7 and, passing across the path of the end of the wire l, engages with the said wire and prevents the turning and the consequent unwinding of the Wires from the spool, as will be readily understood. By reason of the two sets of wires winding upon the spool a slight rotation of the latter upon its axis will result in an appreciable expansion of the coilspring after the latter is once subjected to tension by the tightening of the wires, as will be readily comprehended.

To prevent the overstretching of the coilspring and'to provide for securing a proper `tension on'the line-wire in the event of the coil-spring breaking, a long link or wire loop ll is passed through the coil-spring, and has` one end engaged with the terminal portion of the intercepted line-.wire and its opposite end portion passing through the fold of the wire 5. Obviously in the event of the spring 3 breaking or stretching beyond a predetermined point the closed endsl of the wire 5 and ICO to the top and bottom line-wires by being coiled or twisted therearound. The loops 14 come opposite the respective intermediate line-wires and are engaged with the latter in the following manner: The straight wire 13 is placed upon the opposite side of the linewires to that upon which the looped wire is located, and it engages with the upper and lower portions of the several loops or eyes 14, which latter coperatewith the straight wire to bind the latter against the line-wires at the point of crossing. The straight wire is placed in position by being slipped vertically through the upper and lower portions of the several loops in succession, and its lower end is coiled about the bottom line-wire, and its upper end is formed into an eye 15, which encircles the top line-wire and is in turn secured to the said top wire by having the upper end of the looped wire 12 engaged with the eye 15 prior to its-bein g coiled around the said top line-wire. The loops 14 engage with the line-wires at diametrically opposite points, and with the straight wire at similar points in vertical alinement. wires mutually interlock and brace the linewires and prevent vertical displacement of the latter, and obviate any movement of the completed stay upon the line-wires after the parts 12 and 13 have been properly adjusted.

Vhile the construction and disposition of the parts herein referred to are preferred, it is obvious that within certain limits various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. The combination with a line or fence wire, of a compensator located in the length thereof and comprising a coil-spring, a folded wire, and av spool, the latter adapted to distcnd the coil-spring in the manner and for the purpose set forth, and a link or wire loop passing through the coil-spring and having one end engaged with the intercepted end of The looped and straight" the line-wire and its opposite end portion looped into or passing through the folded end of the aforesaid folded wire, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combinati-on with a fence or line wire, y of a compensator interposed in the length thereof and comprising a coil-spring,v a folded wire, and a spool, the latter comprising a middle and end portions which are separated by intermediate flanges, the'latter having corresponding openings for the reception of a pin by means of which the spool is pre- 'vented from turning back when adjusted to subject the line-wire and the coil-spring to tension.

3. The combination with a fence or line wire, of a compensator interposed in the length thereof and comprising a coil-spring, a spool having a middle and end portions separated by intermediate flanges, and a wire having side members whose terminal portions are adapted to be wound` upon the end portions of the spool, the latter having one end enlarged and transversely aperturcd for the reception of an instrument by means of which the spool can be rotated, and the ianges of the latter having corresponding openings for the reception of a pin to prevent the backward turning of the spool after the line-wire has been subjected to tension, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with a series of fencewires, of a stay comprising a wire having loops intermediate of its length corresponding to the intermediate fence-wires, and having its end portions coiled about the top and bottom fence-wires, and a straight Wire located upon the opposite side of the fencewires to that upon which is placed the looped wire and engaging with the upper and lower portions of the respective loops at points above and below the. corresponding fencewires, and having its lower end coiled about the bottom fence-wire, and having its upper end formed into an eye through which passes the top fence-wire, and having the terminal portion bent around the top wire and the eye, and having the upper end of the said looped wire bent about the eye of the straight wire and the top fence-wires, as and for the purpose set forth.

ln testimony that l claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN MCKEE.'

Vitnesses:

Gno. WooDsIDE, M. O. MESSER.

IOO

IIO 

